Salt-N-Pepa‘s Spinderella is now the first female DJ ever inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
The historic moment happened Saturday (Nov. 8) during the the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Los Angeles’ Peacock Theater, where Salt-N-Pepa were inducted into the Hall of Fame.
After a speech from Missy Elliott, the trio performed a medley of their classic hits including 1987’s “Push It” and 1993’s “Whatta Man,” for which they were joined by the song’s original collaborators En Vogue.
The trio then made its own acceptance speeches, with Salt-N-Pepa DJ Spinderella, whose real name is Deidra Muriel Roper, noting that the honor makes her the first female DJ ever inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
“When I started, it was a rare thing to see a woman behind turntables,” Spinderella said. “It was literally the boys club, so I had to carve my own lane. I had to show up. It was dedication; it was my craft, and I never missed a beat, in 40 years y’all… I carry every female DJ who ever dared to dream. Every woman who touched a turntable and said, ‘I can do that too.’ This is ours. Respect the DJ.”
DJs already in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame include DJ Kool Herc, who was inducted in 2003 and Grandmaster Flash, who was inducted in 2007.
The trio’s Saturday night acceptance speech also saw Salt-N-Pepa’s Cheryl “Salt” James referencing the group’s lawsuit, filed in May, against Universal Music Group to regain control of their masters, alleging that the record company has not honored Salt-N-Pepa’s copyright clawback rights and has punished them by taking their music off streaming.
“We’re in a fight for our masters that rightfully belong to us…,” James said. “After 40 years, our streaming music has been taking down from all streaming platforms because the industry doesn’t want to play fair,” then, amid cheers, added that “Salt-N- Pepa has never been afraid of a fight.”
